1
Customer orders and pays
Customer orders whatever they want. Nothing changes at this stage. The loyalty program kicks in when the barista closes the check.
Loyalty program · minimum check for stamp
Loyalty program with a minimum check:
Loyalty program with a minimum check:
stamp only for a real visit
Set the minimum that earns a stamp — e.g., $5. Order $4 — no stamp, the barista sees a red warning "Need $1 more". Order $7 — stamp credited. Tiny purchases don’t dilute card progress, while regulars get rewarded for real visits.
Built for cafés that don’t want to give a stamp for one croissant, for gas stations with cafés (minimum fill-up), for lounge bars with table minimums, for quick-service restaurants. Set the threshold in your currency — the program protects your margin.
19 locales5 min to launchNo customer appThreshold = your margin
Café "Light Brew"
Kyiv · Prorizna 7
5 visits from $5 — sixth free
Qualified visits 4 / 5 · minimum check $5
credited ✓
Get bonus (available after 5/5)
Tiny purchases
earn no stamp
How it works · Qualified visits
How customers collect stamps
Six simple steps — from payment to credited stamp. Key moment — at step 3 the program checks whether the check exceeds your minimum. That’s the main difference from regular 5+1.
2
Barista enters the check amount
On the panel, the barista enters the latest check amount — e.g., $7.50 — and taps "Generate QR". If the amount is below the threshold, the button stays disabled (see step 3).
3
Minimum-check verification
If amount <b>≥ threshold</b> (e.g., $5) — "Generate QR" button is active, the stamp will be credited. If <b>< threshold</b> — a noticeable red warning appears on the barista panel: "Need $X more for a stamp". The barista can gently suggest the customer add an item.
4
Customer scans with camera
Any smartphone camera. No app for the customer. Scans the QR — and is instantly on their card with one more stamp.
5
New customer — in 10 seconds
First time — customer enters email and instantly gets a magic link. Tap the link — they’re on their card with the stamp already credited. No forms, no passwords.
6
Card updates live
If this was the last stamp before the bonus — the customer instantly sees "Bonus available". Birthday and streak bonuses accrue automatically if you’ve enabled them.
How it works · Bonus redemption
How customers redeem bonuses
Five steps from "I have a bonus!" to "bonus delivered". Quick for the barista, clear for the customer.
1
Customer opens the card with the bonus
The customer sees the "Bonus available" indicator, a 4-digit PIN and a QR code on the card. Both valid for one minute or one use. Customer shows the screen to the barista — or simply says the PIN.
2
Barista scans the code
On the barista panel they tap "Issue bonus" and scan the customer’s QR (tablet camera) or enter the 4-digit PIN. In the 5+1 model there’s no tier choice — the barista delivers the drink from your menu per the customer’s choice.
3
On screen — bonus request
Barista’s screen shows "Customer wants a bonus. Confirm or deny?". Quick, no extra details.
4
Barista confirms
One tap — bonus is issued. Customer card updates to "Bonus delivered", accumulated stamps are taken for this bonus — and the customer can immediately start a new card.
5
Customer sees confirmation
A second after confirmation — customer screen shows "Bonus delivered ✓" and a fresh card ready for new collection. No paper receipts, no waiting.
Customer cases
Who’s already using the minimum-check model
Three verticals where the check threshold is critical: cafés that don’t want to give a stamp for a croissant, gas stations with minimum fill-ups, lounge bars with table minimums. Threshold is set to your average ticket.
Café "Light Brew"
Kyiv · single location
Threshold $5 · 5 visitsbonus: any drink
Average check $6. Customer orders a latte for $3 — below threshold, the barista sees "Need $2 more" and offers a croissant for $3. Customer adds, check $6 — stamp credited. Program as an upsell tool: customer happy to get a stamp, barista raised the average check.
+22% average ticket lift from incentive to reach the minimum
Gas station "Fuel" with café
network · 12 locations
Threshold $20 · 5 fill-upsbonus: free coffee
Customers stopping for $2-3 of fuel "to get home" aren’t the target audience. The $20 threshold filters them out. 5 real fill-ups (≥$20) — and a free coffee bonus. Encourages full fill-ups, not "a quarter of a tank".
+34% average fill-up amount after threshold introduction
Lounge bar "Aroma"
Odesa · single location
Threshold $12 · 5 visitsbonus: cocktail
One cocktail $10 — below threshold, no stamp. Two friends order two each — $20, stamp credited. Naturally encourages "don’t drop in alone for one drink" — go with a group or place a fuller order. 5 "real" visits = a free cocktail.
+45% average ticket lift via incentive to come with a group
Flexibility
What you can configure
The minimum-check program is not a fixed template. Here are 7 key settings you adapt to your format and margin.
| Minimum check for a stamp | Pick an amount in your currency — e.g., $5, 150 ₴ or 250 PLN. We recommend 70-80% of your typical check: average $7 → threshold $5-6. The threshold should be hit by a "natural" order but cut off "penny" purchases. Below 50% — the threshold is irrational (almost every order beats it); above 100% — customers abandon the program. |
| Bonus threshold | 5 — most popular value (5 qualified visits = 1 free bonus). We recommend 2-10 visits. Threshold change doesn’t affect already earned stamps. Binary rule: visit ≥ minimum check = +1 stamp. Otherwise 0 (no partial credit; for proportional, use a different mode). |
| What to gift | By default — any drink from the menu. You can restrict: price cap (up to $3), category (espresso only), or a list of specific items. |
| Red warning for the barista | If the customer is below the threshold — a noticeable red message appears on the barista panel: "Need $X more for a stamp". The "Generate QR" button stays inactive until the customer reaches the threshold. The barista can gently suggest the customer add an item — an upsell tool that works in both the customer’s and your interest. |
| Anti-fraud protection | Every QR is single-use and lives for a minute. The barista enters the check amount through a closed field — the customer can’t enter their own. Binary threshold check is done on the server — the customer can’t "trick" the threshold even if they know its value. |
| Single card across the network | If you have multiple branches — customers collect stamps everywhere on a single card. No need to set up a separate card for each café, no need to migrate data manually. |
| Boosters: birthday + streak | Toggle in campaign settings — no extra tier, no mode change, no extra campaign. Birthday and streak bonuses are top-ups to `bonuses_available` regardless of the minimum check (the customer gets a free bonus even without qualified visits). |
Bonus · Birthday
Birthday bonus
The fastest way to boost loyalty — without discounts or margin loss. Customer adds birthday on first card add, automatically receives a gift in their birthday week. The birthday reward is a <b>top-up of bonuses_available</b>: a free bonus regardless of the minimum check (even without qualified visits).
1-click toggleCustomer activity threshold±3 days around birthdayFlexible reward- Bonus stamps right to the card — customer gets a free drink in their birthday week
- Anti-freeloader — only customers who bought N bonuses overall get the gift
- Flexible window — exactly on birthday or week around it (your choice)
- Fully automatic — no email blasts, no extra barista work, no separate campaign
+34%more returns in birthday week vs control group (median across our cafés)
Birthday week
+5 stamps gift
Active Nov 15–21. Your card already received bonus stamps — your next visit will be the sixth.
Progress5 / 5 · bonus available
Streak this week
Still 1 day to bonus: +1 stamp for 7-day streak
1 day to bonus: +1 stamp for 7-day streak
Bonus · Regularity streak
Streak
bonus
Reward for regularity — the best way to turn occasional visitors into daily ones. Customer sees the "X days in a row" counter right on their card, and that builds the habit of coming back.
Custom visit threshold
Custom period
Custom bonus
Soft-fail
Bonus threshold — e.g., 7 visits in 7 days (one each day of the week)
- Reward type — extra stamps to card or instant free drink
- Soft-fail — one missed day doesn’t reset the streak, just pauses it
- Counter visible right on the card — that itself is the motivation
3.4×increase in visit frequency for streak-bonus customers vs standard 5+1
Comparison
Costless 51 vs alternatives
Many loyalty programs offer a check threshold, but almost all require their own POS or enterprise licensing. Costless is the only one offering minimum-check in the SMB range without POS dependency.
| Feature | Costless 51 | App-light | App-based | POS-tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check threshold for stamp | ✓ ✓ | ✗ ✓ | ✗ ✓ | ✓ |
| No mandatory third-party POS | ✓ Enterprise loyalty suites | Third-party POS only | ✗ Localization | 19 languages |
| EN + RU | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ EN only |
| RU only | ✓ | RU + EN | ✓ | ✗ |
| Birthday + streak built-in | partial | partial | via add-ons | Starting price |
Overview
Watch in 90 seconds
Full cycle — customer orders for $4 → red warning "Need $1 more" → customer adds a croissant → green check → stamp credited. Slogan at the till: "tiny purchases earn no stamp". Voice in English, subtitles in 19 languages.
Minimum check for a stamp · Costless 5+1
More than a stamp card
A retention platform, not just stamps
Every stamp is data. Costless turns it into retention tools a paper card can't touch — so you don't just collect stamps, you bring customers back.
RFM analytics
See repeat rate, churn risk, and lifetime value for every customer — no separate CRM. Starter and above.
Automatic win-back
When a customer goes quiet, the platform emails them back automatically — no list-watching. Starter and above.
Birthday rewards
One automatic reward a year, within the window you set — a reason to come in that you never have to remember.
Do I need a separate CRM for this?
No. RFM analytics, churn-risk flags, and automatic win-back are built into Costless — driven by the same stamps your customers already collect. No CRM, no extra tools.
Which plans include the retention tools?
RFM analytics and automatic win-back are on Starter and above; the Free tier includes the stamp card and basic analytics. Birthday rewards are on Starter and above too.
Pricing
Fair price. Free start.
Pay only when the program brings you customers. Free tier — forever, no expiration, no hidden conditions.
Most Popular
Business
$69 /mo
- 10 locations
- 10 campaigns
- 20 baristas
- All 6 stamp modes
- Full RFM + export
Network
$189 /mo
- 50 locations
- Unlimited
- Unlimited
- All 6 stamp modes
- Full RFM + export + API
Explore other loyalty mechanics
Coffee Shop Loyalty Card — Digital Punch Card | CostlessDigital punch card for coffee shops. Scan QR to collect 5 stamps, sixth drink free. No app, no paper cards. Launch in 5 minutes. Free forever.Store Loyalty Program: Stamp per Item in Receipt | CostlessLaunch a loyalty stamp card for your bookstore, pet shop or bakery: customers earn a stamp for every item in the receipt. No app needed, no POS. Free forever.Restaurant Loyalty: 1 Stamp per $5 in Receipt | CostlessRestaurant loyalty by receipt amount: every $5 earns 1 stamp, 5 stamps unlock a free bonus. No customer app required, 5-minute launch.Tiered Café Loyalty: Drink Size = Bonus Type | CostlessTiered loyalty for cafés with S/M/L. Buy Large — get Large free. Each stamp tagged with drink size. No POS dependency. Free tier available.Tiered Restaurant Loyalty: Per-Item Stamp Tier | CostlessTiered loyalty program for restaurants with mixed orders. One scan = N stamps, each tagged with its own tier based on the actual item.Hotel/Spa Loyalty: $5 = 1 Stamp + Tiered Bonus | CostlessStamp-per-receipt loyalty with tiered bonus menu (S/M/L). For hotels, spas, restaurants with mixed menus. Customer picks bonus from any tier.Restaurant Loyalty: Spend $50 for Free Dessert | CostlessCumulative loyalty for restaurants with variable ticket size. Customer spends $50 across visits, gets a free dessert. No app, no POS.Cumulative loyalty program with tiered bonus menu | CostlessCumulative loyalty with tiered bonus menu. Customer accumulates spend across visits, then picks any item from Small/Medium/Large tiers.Visit-Tier Loyalty Program: Tiered Bonus Menu | CostlessLoyalty with minimum check + tiered bonus menu for wine bars, spa hotels, steakhouses. Stamp only for qualified visits. Customer picks S/M/L bonus.
Common questions
What people ask before launch
Everything about the minimum-check model — how the threshold works, how to pick it, how it differs from regular 5+1, whether partial credit is possible.
How does the minimum-check model work?
The barista enters the check amount after payment. If it’s ≥ the threshold — a stamp is credited. Below the threshold — no stamp. You configure the threshold in the admin panel: for a café with $7 average check — threshold $5; for a bar with $20 average — threshold $12-15.
How does it differ from a regular 5+1 stamp card?
In regular 5+1, a stamp is credited for the fact of a visit, regardless of amount. Bought a $1 croissant — got a stamp. Bought a $12 set — got the same stamp. That’s unfair to the business. In minimum-check mode, a stamp is credited only for a "real" visit with the minimum you set — the program rewards customers who actually spend.
How do I pick the right check threshold?
Usually the threshold is 70-80% of the typical check. If the average check is $7 — threshold $5-6. The threshold should be hit by a "natural" order (full breakfast, lunch with a side, two drinks etc.), but cut off "penny" purchases. Below 50% — the threshold is irrational, because almost every order beats it. Above 100% — customers abandon the program because they always fall a bit short.
Can I change the threshold after launch?
Yes, in campaign settings. Change doesn’t affect already-earned stamps — current cards continue with the old threshold to bonus, new qualified visits count with the new threshold. Lets you experiment: try $5, switch to $7 — without losing existing customer loyalty.
What does the barista see when the customer is below the threshold?
A noticeable red warning: "Need $X more for a stamp". The "Generate QR" button is inactive until the customer reaches the threshold. The barista can gently suggest the customer add an item — a dessert, an aperitif, an extra drink. It’s an honest upsell tool: the customer’s happy to get a stamp, the barista raised the average check.
Is partial credit — say 0.5 of a stamp — possible?
No, the mode is binary: visit ≥ threshold = +1 stamp, otherwise = 0. If you need proportional credit (1 stamp per $X spent, with partial progress) — pick a different mode in Costless: "stamp per spend amount". It suits scenarios like "every $25 = +1 stamp" where the check varies widely.
What if the customer tries to game the stamps?
Every QR is single-use and lives only one minute from creation. The barista enters the check amount through a closed field (in the admin panel) — the customer can’t enter their own. The threshold check is done on the server: even if the customer knows the threshold, they can’t "trick" the system. Without a barista, without a register tablet — no stamp is credited.
Launch your minimum-check program in 5 minutes
Free tier · 1 location · unlimited customers · threshold in your currency. No app, no POS dependency. Tiny purchases don’t dilute card progress. Birthday gift and streak bonus — on paid plans.
Create card free →No credit cardCancel any timeYour data — yours forever